Summertime change and celebrations

I'm pacing myself for all of the work and changes coming to our family within the next few months. We covet your prayers as we step out in faith to follow His leading.

Our lease here is up in June and we need to sell our house in Mt. Vernon. So we're going to be moving our furniture into storage, living in our travel trailer, renovating the house, selling it, and buying a home back here in the Bothell/Snohomish area, prayerfully all in time for school to start again in September.

Prior to our move, I will also be taking some courses to provide more professional services to people with disabilities and their families. The goal is to start working with clients after being resettled in September.

In the midst of all this we're going to have a big party in July. We're welcoming family and friends from near and far to celebrate a lifetime of love - my parents' 50th wedding anniversary!  (It will be our 10th wedding anniversary as well, though our celebration will wait.)

What an adventurous and creative 5 months it's going to be! I'm already praying for patience, peace, and our new neighborhood - that we will be placed right in the middle of where we need to be, in just the right home, at just the right price! He is in control. We make our plans but He directs our steps. We are listening and trying to be obedient. His kingdom come. His will be done - here as in heaven.

Thanks for your patience and prayers too during this exciting #caldwelladventure. 'Tis going to be awesome to take this day by day and see His hand at work through all the details. Stay tuned to follow our story...

Will You Walk With Me?

I want to be real not fake or plastic
Transparent for all to see
Jesus, His light - His character,
Shining out from me.

But all too easy, I put on my mask
I hide behind my facade.
I want you to think I'm doing just fine
Meantime I'm questioning God.

But what will you think if you really know
How I struggle and question my faith?
Will you push me away? Will you still be my friend?
Or will you choose to walk with me?

When I look at you, I wonder inside.
Can you possibly relate to me?
Maybe I've been so focussed on me
The true you was harder to see.

Along came my Friend and whispered to me.
He opened my eyes and let me see.
He gave me a peek into your heart
And showed me a jewel right there from the start.

You want to believe His treasure is there.
But dare not look and open it bare.
The jewel feels cold, sharp and painful too.
Rough edges poking on the inside of you.

My sister, my friend, let's make a pact.
Let's walk together and we'll never lack.
I'll help you see the treasure you are.
As you hold my hand we'll shine like a star.

No longer masked, no longer afraid
We'll hold our heads high, our debt has been paid.
Jesus' death paid our ransom. It set our hearts free.
Untangled the web, His blood was the key.

My name and yours are carved on His heart.
Never again will we be apart.
We'll walk together with Him at our side
As our jewels reflect the Love of our Guide.

November 8th, 2008
by Joy Grace Caldwell
for the CTK Women's Retreat
Sumas, Washington

Inspiration for the Day

"His grip is sure and His patience still endures- there will be no letting go today!" (Line from a song by the Newsboys)

I just read this quote on a friend's facebook status update and it really inspired me! (Thanks, Kristen!) Trust it inspires you as well...

Today when everything else seems so shaky and uncertain, He is our faithful Hope! Thank you Lord!

This is for Sarah Palin (and anyone else who needs the Unshakeable Confidence that only Christ can bring)

I read the following devotional today in my Zondervan Women's Devotional Bible (p. 701), (Author not identified), and thought it might encourage you in the same way it encouraged me.

Psalm 71:5-6 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.

“...If God can use a roaming Bedouin to birth a nation, a stuttering speaker to confront Egypt's pharaoh, a shepherd boy to lead a nation, an exiled Jewish girl to rescue her people and a timid teenager to bear the Son of God, then God can use us [Sarah Palin]! The critical question isn't, "Can I [Sarah Palin] do this?" The better question is, "Can God do this through me [Sarah Palin]?" The answer is a resounding "YES!"....

When we feel weak-kneed and lack confidence, we are most open to relying on God. The Bible gives us affirmation after affirmation of God's strength in the face of our limited ability: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phil.4:13). "Nothing is impossible with God". (Luke 1:37) "Nothing is too hard for [the Lord]." (Jer. 32:17). "In all these things we are mre than conquerors through Him who loved us". (Rom.8:37)"My grace is sufficent for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness". (2 Cor. 12:9) Nothing silences the voice of timidity as powerfully as the voice of Scripture.

So if you find yourself in a new situation today, make sure you don't rely on your own limited talents or skills, but that you place your unshakable confidence in the limitless God.”

God bless you, Sarah. I don't believe in your abilities - I believe in God's abilities through you. "...and who knows but that you have come to royal (Presidential) position for such a time as this?!" Esther 4:14

Jeanna Joy

Jeanna Joy
September 1996

Twelve years ago today
My lifelong dream came true
I became a mother
As I gave birth to you

Our Heavenly Father blessed us
With a Gracious Gift of Joy
I always wanted a girl first
Though we thought you were a boy

You arrived a few weeks early
And gave our hearts a fright
As you had some trouble breathing
In the middle of the night

We gave you to the Lord
From the moment you arrived
He healed your little body
And ever since you’ve thrived

You have always been a beauty
With your gorgeous auburn curls
As freckles skip across your nose
How you love to dance & twirl

Right from the very beginning
You have studied everything
Your bright mind so curious
Your quietness endearing

You started humming early
Then talking, singing too
Music has come naturally
Just spilling out of you

The Lord has chosen you His child
He has given gifts to you
He has a special purpose
He’s designing just for you

You have a quiet inner strength
Mature beyond your years
The Father’s love is faithful
Bringing peace when there are tears

My prayer for you is this today
May you make His ways your own
As He becomes your closest friend
You’ll never be alone

As you turn twelve, Jeanna Joy
I just have this to say
May you be extra special blessed
On this your special day


Written just for you by Mom
(Joy Grace Caldwell)
September 2008

Seasons of Our Lives

Seasons come and seasons go.
The leaves they constant change.
So too our lives ebb and flow,
No matter what the age.

Right from the start as little babes
Our lives take root like trees.
As flowers bloom so too our hearts
So lovely for all to see.

From baby dolls to High School Prom
The years they come and go.
From princess dress to bling blue jeans
Then it’s a wedding dress to sew.

From ponytails to slanted bob
Once blond, then brown, now gray
Our hair like leaves never the same
Our long locks now gone away.

As goes our age, our clothes, our hair
So too our hearts do change.
There’s joy and pain, laughter and tears
Each day writes a brand new page.

Some pages they are stained with tears,
These seasons marked with pain.
But joy like flowers never bloomed
Without the storms and rain.

God knows just how much sunshine
Blue skies, yet storm clouds too,
Each phase, each stage, each season
Of our lives He long foreknew.

It brings me peace and comfort
To say, “His will not mine.”
Will you choose to trust Him
Through each season, in His time?

Joy Grace Caldwell
September 10, 2008